Changeable sign



Sept. 21', 1954 A. T. ATKIN 2,689,423

CHANGEABLE SIGN Filed Aug. 28, 1950 Audley T. Allan IN VEN TOR.

Patented Sept. 21 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHANGEABLE SIGN Audley 'r. Atkin, Linesville, Pa. Application August 28, 1950, Serial No. 181,885

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in changeable signs and more particularly to a novel interlocking construction for the changeable elements of the sign.

An important object of the invention is to provide a supporting panel for changeable sign figures, letters or other sign characters and elements and forming the panel with a dove-tail rib received in a dove-tail groove in the back of the sign characters, and further to construct the sign characters with their upper and lower portions bearing against the panel to exert an outward pressure at the portion of the sign character formed with the groove to cause a tight interlocking engagement with the rib to hold the sign character from sliding thereon.

Another object is to construct the sign character of resilient material with its upper and lower portions offset rearwardly from the vertical plane of its central portion formed with the groove, whereby the central portion will be subjected to outward pressure when the sign character is mounted on its supporting panel.

A further object is to provide an interlocking changeable sign of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation,

neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the 1 details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the supporting panel with one of the sign characters in position thereon;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the sign character;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modifled sign character;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the panel with the modified sign character thereon.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of another modification of the sign character;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the panel with the last named sign character thereon;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of a further modification of the sign character; and

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view of the panel showing the last thereon. 1

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and first with respect to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a sign character representing the letter V, and constructed of resilient plastic, or other suitable material, and formedin its rear face at its central portion with a horizontal, dove-tail groove 6. The rear face of the sign character, both above and below the groove, is inclined rearwardly to position the rear upper and lower edges 1 and 8 rearwardly of the vertical plane of the central portion of the sign character.

The sign character is mounted on a horizontal dove-tail rib 9 of a supporting panel ill by holding the upper and lower edges 1 and 8 firmly in the fingers and pressing the central portion rearwardly to flex the sign character for placing the rib in groove 6 of the sign character and sliding the latter into a desired position on the panel. Upon releasing the upper and lower edges of the sign character the said edges will bear firmly against the panel and force the central portion of the sign character forwardly to bind the groove on the rib in interlocking engagement with each other.

In Figures 5 and 6 the sign character I I is constructed of uniform thickness above and below its central groove l2 and the upper and lower portions [3 and M of the sign character are inclined rearwardly. The sign character is flexed to place the same on the rib 15 of the panel I5, as heretofore described.

The sign character I! of Figures 7 and 8 is constructed similar to Figures 3 and 4 except for a bevelling l8 at the upper and lower front edges.-

The sign character 19 shown in Figures 9 and 10 is formed with straight front and rear surfaces and lugs 20 and 2| project rearward'ly from the upper and lower edges of the rear surface to force the groove 22 at the central portion of the sign character forwardly to bind on the rib 23 of the panel 24 when the sign character is flexed and then released with the lugs bearing against the panel.

The supporting panel may be provided with the dove-tail rib on one or both sides.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art.

named sign character 3 A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a sign, the combination of a rigid support having a rigid dove-tail rib, and a resilient sign character having a dove-tail groove in its rear surface adapted to receive the rib to support the sign character thereon, said sign character having a part of its rear portion positioned rearwardly with respect to the plane of the groove and pressed against the support at a point spaced from the longitudinal edges of the rib to flex the sign character in a forward direction and force thegroove forwardly on the'ribrbo bind the groove with the rib.

2. In a sigmthe combination of a rigid support having a rigid dove-tail rib, and a resilient sign character having a dove-tail groove in its rear surface adapted to receive the rib to support the sign character thereon, -said sign character havits rear surface inclined rearwardly from a point adjacent the region of the groove and in a direction substantially at right angles with respect to the groove to reduce the thickness of the sign character in the region of the groove, said rearwardly inclined portion being pressed against the support to flex the sign character in a forward direction and force the groove forwardly on the rib to bind the groove with the rib.

3. In a sign, the combination of a rigid support and a resilient sign character, and interlocking means between the support and the sign character and comprising a dove-tail rib on the support adapted to enter a dove-tail groove at the back of the sign character, and rearwardly projecting lugs on the back of the sign character at laterally spaced apart points with respect to the groove and adapted to press against the support to flex the sign character in a forward directio and bind the groove on the rib.

References Cited in the :file of "this patent UNITED STATES "PATENTS Number Name Date 1,507,308 Evens u Sept. 2, 1924 1,805,378 Send -w May 12, 1931 2,092,508 'Hammar Sept. 7, 1937 2,342,237 Barbieri Feb. 22, 194.4 

